Portable sunbathing cot



Filed May 5, 1967 INVENTOR. 3 ELAINE M. BIEN m A WX P AT ORNEYS M United States Patent US. Cl. 5110 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a new and novel sunbathing cot structure and, more particularly, to a readily portable sunbathing cot structure adapted for usage by people with enlarged abdomen areas, namely, pregnant women. Still, more specifically, this invention relates to a sunbathing cot structure having an upper horizontally extended support surface with an enlarged opening therein adapted to receive ones enlargement abdomen area and an auxiliary cover member adapted to expose or cover the enlarged opening as desired. Additionally, this invention relates to a sunbathing cot structure having an upper support surface with a central portion thereof formed of elastic material so as to resiliently receive and support ones abdomen area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Numerous types of portable and retractable cot structures are known to the prior art having an upper horizontally extended support surface adapted to support one while sunbathing, resting, and the like. However, the prior art cot structures are generally bulky in size and weight and cannot be readily moved by a person from one location to another. Additionally, the prior art devices are not comfortable for persons with enlarged abdomen areas such as with pregnant women trying to lie face down upon the upper support surface of the cot member. Additionally, in the conventional prior art cot structures, the lying face down on the cot by a pregnant woman is quite uncomfortable and might be harmful to both the expectant mother and child.

In one preferred specific embodiment of the sunbathing sun cot structure of this invention, a frame means is provided including an upper bed frame supported at each corner by a retractable leg assembly and having the upper bed frame supporting a horizontally extended cover means thereon. The cover means, preferably constructed of canvas or plastic material, operates to provide a slightly resilient and strong supporting surface for one lying thereon. The cover means is provided with a centrally positioned enlarged opening adapted to receive ones abdomen when lying face down upon the cot structure. An auxiliary cover section, preferably constructed of same material as the cover means, is attached to one side of the upper bed frame and extendable across the frame and attachable to the opposite side thereof. In this position, the cover section is operable to overlay the enlarged opening whereby the entire portable cot structure can be used in a normal way. The cover section is provided with a plurality of fastening buttons so that the tension of the cover means can be readily adjusted. Additionally, the cover section may be released and brought underneath the entire upper frame bed and adjustably connected to the other side thereof whereupon the cover section acts as a secondary support surface positioned below the upper cover means. In this second position, the protrusion of an enlarged abdomen through the enlarged opening may rest upon the cover section so as to provide support thereto for additional comfort.

In another embodiment of this invention, a frame "ice means is provided having an upper cover means there across in a manner substantially identical to the first embodiment. However, the cover means is provided with an enlarged opening which has been replaced with a resilient or elastic material. It is obvious, therefore, that the second embodiment would be operable in a manner substantially identical to the first except that the resilient or elastic material within the opening permits the same to give under a load while still providing the necessary support.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a new and novel portable sunbathing cot structure overcoming the above mentioned disadvantages of the prior art devices. 0

Another object of this invention is to provide'a sunbathing cot structure including a collapsible and portable frame means having an upper supporting surface with an enlarged opening adapted to receive an enlarged abdomen area such as those commonly found on pregnant Women.

Still, one further object of this invention is to provide a sunbathing cot structure having an upper support means mounted upon a frame means, an enlarged opening in the support means, and another cover section secured to one side of the frame means adapted to cover the enlarged opening when desired.

A further object of this invention is to provide a readily portable sunbathing cot structure having an upper support area supported on a frame means and provided with an enlarged centrally positioned opening covered by a resilient material adapted to receive an enlarged abdomen area commonly found on pregnant women, to allow the protrusion of the abdomen area below the support while providing desirable resilient support by the resilient material.

One other object of this invention is to provide a sunbathing cot structure readily usable by pregnant women that is economical to manufacture, simple to use, and readily adjustable to provide a plurality of varying vertical support areas for the abdomen.

Still, one other object of this invention is to provide a collapsible and portable sunbathing cot structure'that is easy to convey, simple to collapse and assemble, and readily convertible from a conventionally appearing cot structure to a specially designed cot structure adapted to be used by one having an enlarged abdomen such as pregnant women.

Various other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following discussion, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the sunbathing cot structure of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 having an upper cover section positioned in another usage position;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a second embodiment of the sunbathing cot structure of this invention; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the sunbathing cot structure of this invention in its folded transport or storage condition.

The following is a discussion and description of preferred specific embodiments of the new portable sunbathing cot structure of this invention, such being made with reference to the drawings, whereupon the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar parts and/or structure. It is to be understood that such discussion and description is not to unduly limit the scope of the invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail and in particular to FIG. 1, a sunbathing cot structure of this invention, indicated generally at 12, is illustrated in the normal usage or upright assembled condition. The cot structure 12 includes a collapsible frame means 14 having a cover means 16 secured thereto so as to form an upper horizontally extended support surface 18.

More specifically, the frame means 14 includes an upper support bed frame 19 of generally rectangular shape having each corner thereof connected to a leg assembly 21. The rectangular support bed frame 19 is preferably constructed of angle iron material having parallel end members 23 and 24 and side members 26 and 27. The upper support surface 18 is of an area to sufficiently support an adult person thereon in a comfortable manner.

Each leg assembly 21 is provided with a leg member 29 held in an upright position by collapsible strut members 31. Adjacent leg members 29 are secured to common end members 23 and 24, respectively, and additionally supported by laterally extended support bars 32. The collapsible strut members 31 are of a common type having a mid-portion pivotally interconnected plus opposite ends pivotally connected and held in the assembled position of FIG. 1 as by detent members thereon. It is seen that at opposite ends of the support bed frame 19 are laterally extended handle members 34 operable to be engaged for conveyance when the cot structure 12 is in the collapsed or folded position of FIG. as will be explained.

The cover means 16 includes an enlarged main body 36 and a smaller auxiliary cover section 37. The main body 36 is of a size to extend across the entire opening of the support bed frame 19 and is secured to the side members 26, 27 and end members 23, 24 as by screw members, rivets, or the like. The peripheral edge of the'main body 36 is wrapped about the bed frame 19 so as to be attractive in appearance. A mid-portion of the main body 36 is provided with an enlarged circular opening 38 adapted to receive abdomen areas of persons as will be explained. It is obvious that the main body 36 is preferably constructed of a plastic or canvas material so as to have a slight resiliency but providing comfort and support to one thereon.

The auxiliary cover section 37 is secured at one end to the side member 26 of the support bed frame 19 and may be stretched across the upper surface of the main body 36 so as to cover the entire enlarged opening 38. It is seen that an opposite end portion 41 of the cover section 37 is provided with a plurality of aligned rows of fastener or snap members 43 adaptedto be engageable with a corresponding row of receiving fastener members 45 secured to the side member 27 in a conventional manner. It is also seen that the cover section 37 is preferably constructed of a canvas material matching the main body 36 so that when the same is stretched over the upper surface and secured to the bed frame 19 as shown in FIG. 1, the sunbathing cot structure 12 appears similar to any other cot structure.

In the use and operation of the portable sunbathing cot structure 12 of this invention, it is obvious that the frame means 14 can be assembled as shown in FIG. 1 whereupon the support bed frame 19 is maintained in an elongated position above the ground surface as by the upright leg assemblies 21. With the cover section 37 extended across the bed frame 19 as shown in FIG. 1, it is obvious that the cot structure 12 is usable in a conventional manner to support a person thereon. However, as shown in FIG. 2, the end portion 41 of the cover section 37 may be unsnapped from the receiving fastener members 45 and the same brought over and then under the entire main body 36 so as to expose the enlarged opening 38. Then, it is obvious that a selected one of the rows of the fastener members 43 may be again connected to the receiving fastener members 45 so as to achieve a neat appearing structure with the enlarged opening 38 exposed. As best shown in FIG. 3, it is seen that the cover section 37 can be adjusted vertically when pulled across the under- 4 neath side of the support bed frame 19 so as to provide support to an object protruding through the enlarged opening 38.

It is obvious, that the sunbathing cot structure 12 can be used by a person having an enlarged abdomen area, namely pregnant women, who desire to lie upon face down so as to receive a complete sun tan. In doing this, conventional sunbathing cot structures are extremely uncomfortable and the added pressure upon the abdominal area of pregnant women can be extremely unpleasant and perhaps harmful to the unborn child. However, with the cot structure 12 of this invention, it is seen that the enlarged abdominal area of a pregnant woman may be placed within the enlarged opening 38 so as not to put any undue pressure thereon and the cover section 37 extended under the opening 38 offers an auxiliary supporting surface for the abdominal area. It is obvious that the pluralityof rows of fastener members 43 allows for the adjustability of the cover section 37 underneath the enlarged opening 38 so as to provide the desired support to the abdominal area as the same changes during different stages of pregnancy and the adjustable feature can be varied to take this into account.

In another embodiment of this invention as shown in FIG. 4, it is seen that a sunbathing cot structure 47 is provided having an identical frame means 14 as previously described with the cover means 16 having the main body 36 with the enlarged opening 38 therein. However, the opening 38 is covered by a resilient or elastic material 49 thereacross so as to achieve a neat appearing structure. The material 49 provides limited vertical support across the opening 38. The use and operation of the cot structure 47 is substantially identical to that previously described in the first embodiment; however, the use of the elastic material 49 within the enlarged opening 38 permits an overall continuous support to the abdominal area of one using the cot structure while allowing the abdominal area to project below the main body 36 to relieve any undue pressure thereon.

As shown in FIG. 5, the sunbathing cot structures 12 and 47 of this invention are readily collapsible by retraction of the supporting strut members 31 and folding the leg members '29 inwardly toward the support bed frame 19 whereupon the entire frame means 14 is pivotal about central joints 51 to place the handle members 34 adjacent. It is obvious that strap members (not shown) could be secured to the end members 23 and 24 adjacent the handle members 34 so as to secure the collapsed cot structures 12 and 47 in this condition. It is obvious that the collapsible and portable features of this invention are extremely desirable so that the cot structures 12 and 47 can be readily carried by one in a weakened condition, namely pregnant women, to sunbathing areas and the like without putting any undue strain thereon due to weight or size. It is seen that the sunbathing cot structure of this inventlon provides a neat appearing multi-utility structure that is readily collapsible for transport to the desired usage area, economical to manufacture, simple to assemble and disassemble, and compact for storage.

As will be apparent from the foregoing descriptions of preferred specific embodiments of applications sunbathing cot structures, relative simple and inexpensive means have been provided to achieve a readily collapsible and portable cot structure presenting a supporting surface adapted to receive and comfortably support ones abdomen area. Applicants construction presents a new and novel sunbathing cot structure for persons with enlarged abdominal areas, namely pregnant women, so as to properly support this area while sunbathing.

I claim:

1. A portable sunbathing cot structure desirable for persons with enlarged abdominal areas comprising:

(a) a frame means having a support bed frame mounted on retractable leg members and handle members (b) cover means secured to said frame means having an elongated support surface extended in a common plane, said cover means having enlarged opening therein to receive the abdominal area of one resting on said surface, and said cover means having a support cover section securely anchored at one end 3. A sunbathing cot structure as described in claim 1,

wherein:

(a) said support cover section having the opposite end of said support cover section provided with a plurality of paralleled spaced horizontal rows of fastener snap members, and

(b) said frame means provided with a row of receiving fastener members secured to a side member of said support bed frame operable to be in cooperating alignment with certain rows of said fastener snap bl one osition to cover 10 ZZiS ciJSSiLg t Z ZIZ ZZifi t s dntinu us extension of members operable m posmon being trameid over Said S on Surface and anchored so as to Support the top surface of said cover means and having the Pp th th S m manner a the other innermost row of said fastener snap members sea q f i s s 3 i o erablse in a cured to said receiving fastener members to provide POI Sal co P 5 said support cover section being in said common end position to present as auxiliary support surface plane of said cover means so as to provide a rigid e i ii afii i fis ig i o l o ii ifi e ggi structure, and said support cover section operable j i Secgnd i pp surfafe P to be trained under said cover means and preselected ones of said fastener snap member secured to said g f cot structure as described m clalm receiving fastener members adjustably positioned to (a) said support cover section having the other side 21:2 :5 sald Second Support Surface below Sald provided with a plurality of fastener snap members References Cited connectable to receiving fastener snap members secured to the opposite side of said support bed frame, 25 UNITED STATES PATENTS and 1,063,642 6/1913 Birdsall 5-111 XR (b) a plurality of adjacent but spaced rows of said 2,089,854 8/1937 Pellegrini 5 91 fastener snap members are operable to adjustably 87,198 1/1940 Fields 5--89 XR regulate said second position to provide more or less 2,659,092 11/ 1953 Conyers 5-89 XR space between said support surface and said second FOREIGN PATENTS support surface so as to support abdomlnal areas of 28,590 12/1902 Great Britainvarious sizes, and said innermost row of said fastener snap members operable to provide said support cover section in a taut condition so as to provide support equal to that of said cover means in said common plane so that said cot structure now resembles a conventional structure and may be used as same.

US. Cl. X.R. 

